Tiger Woods isn’t playing in the Memorial, maybe not the U.S. Open

Tiger Woods is not playing in next week's Memorial Tournament, and that decision has cast doubt as to whether Woods will play in the 2016 U.S. Open.

Woods did not enter the PGA Tour's Memorial Tournament ahead of the Friday deadline, meaning he won't play in a tournament he has won five times.

However, ESPN analyst Andy North said Friday Woods gave strong consideration to competing, saying Woods ultimately chose not to play. Reuters had previously reported Woods had booked accommodations for the Dublin, Ohio, event.

Woods had a long day to make his decision. Under PGA Tour regulations, a player has until 5 p.m. Eastern or 30 minutes after second-round play concludes -- or is called -- on Friday to commit to the next week's event. With weather delays plaguing pace in Texas at the Dean & DeLuca Invitational, Woods had until well past 9 p.m. Eastern to make that call.

So, if Woods wasn't willing to make his first start back at such friendly turf as Muirfield Village, then it's hard to imagine Woods choosing to make his comeback at Oakmont Country Club, host of the 2016 U.S. Open.

Woods has entered the tournament, well ahead of the deadline, on Monday of Masters Week. But Oakmont is one of the country's most difficult courses. Then again, Woods finished a shot out of a playoff with eventual winner Angel Cabrera when the Open was last contested there in 2007.

Woods indicated on May 16 at Quicken Loans National media day that there is no definitive timetable for his return. On that morning, Woods put three balls in a guarding water hazard on a 103-yard shot on the par-3 10th at host Congressional Country Club.

The 79-time PGA Tour winner has not played since finishing tied for 10th in the 2015 Wyndham Championship last August.

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